Water users are being urged to take precautions due to the outbreak of Crayfish Plague in the Munster Blackwater catchment.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service and Inland Fisheries Ireland is appealing to all users of any river to implement the Check, Clean and Dry Protocol. This involves routine checking, cleaning and drying of equipment after leaving a river and before entering another waterbody. There is no indication of how the crayfish plague reached the catchment but the disease is easily transmitted in water or via contaminated equipment (e.g. kayaks, waders or nets). It is completely harmless to people, pets, livestock and all other freshwater organisms.
Crayfish plague was first discovered in Ireland in 2015 in Co Cavan, and has spread to several other rivers across the country including the river Suir. However, this is the first recorded outbreak of the deadly crayfish plague in Co Cork.
The White-clawed Crayfish is a globally threatened species and Ireland holds one of the largest surviving populations. The crayfish plague is devastating, causing 100% mortality of White-clawed Crayfish, a total kill of the crayfish population is expected which will have major consequences for the ecology of the Blackwater, Awbeg and the whole of Munster Blackwater catchment.
